Been a long January! Welcome February.

Can you believe it? This time last year it was snowing, deep enough in the Cotswolds to prevent travel down the winding potholed lanes to work in Oxford. We fed the birds in the garden to keep them alive.

Chaffinch on the snow covered bird table.

Little did we know that this would be our beloved Ted's last winter. We thought we had many years left in him.

The first cuckoo in the garden, in a frosty mist, a herald, hoping for the Spring to come.

At the end of the month, blue skies and cold sunshine, and a visit to Hilary Long's place of residence to remind myself that there was still life in Overdown. A new book followed, but did it finish Hilary's adventures or start them anew?